Insert for shoe heels



April 25, 1939. H. E. 550w 2,155,905

INSERT FOR SHOE HEELS Filed July 27, 1936 Huyaiffrafz,

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE Hugo E. Protz, La Crosse, Wis.

Application July 27, 1936, Serial No. 92,884

1 Claim.

This invention relates to footwear, and its general object is to provide an insert for the heel portion of shoes, that is primarily designed for use with low shoes, such as pumps, oxfords and slippers, to prevent friction and especially to relieve pressure put on the Achilles tendon, or upper part of the heel of the foot by the counter of the shoe and other factors, thereby preventing blisters, infections, calluses, corns and many other afflictions, in that the insert fills up the space in the shoe heel and provides a snug and proper fit between the same and the heel of the foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insert of the character set forth, that is detachable and adjustable, can be readily applied and removed, is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely eflicient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section illustrating the application of my insert in use.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the per se.

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of my insert is made.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the filler for my device, with a layer thereof partially removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that my insert includes a body which is preferably made from a single blank of material, as shown in Figure 4, and this blank is cut to provide a base i having a rounded rear end 2, and extending laterally from the base I are Wing portions 3 which project rearwardly beyond the rounded rear end 2, while the front ends of the wing portions 3 terminate flush with the straight front end of the base, and the outer edges of the wing portions are curved from their juncture with the front end of the base to the rear ends thereof, as shown. The rear ends of the wing portions 3 are slightly outwardly inclined and the inner side edges thereof are likewise inclined. The wing portions are folded upwardly on the lines 4 to provide the sides of the insert, the inner sides thereof are stitched or otherwise secured to the insert rounded rear end of the base, and the rear ends are stitched or otherwise secured together to provide the rear portion for the body, consequently it will be seenthat the body is in the form of a cup to fit the heel of the wearer, and that the rear portion is curved forwardly from its juncture with the base to follow the shape of the heel of the foot.

Exterio-rly disposed about the rear portion of the body and extending for a portion of the sides thereof is a substantially semi-circular filler strip ii which is preferably made from layer felt but it may be of any suitable material for the purpose intended, such as rubber, cardboard, cork, leather or composition. In any event, the strip is shaped to follow the rounded rear portion of the body as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, and gradually decreases in thickness in tapered formation substantially from the central lower edge to the upper and side edges thereof, in order to snugly fit the space between the foot heel and the heel of the shoe, it being understood of course that the filler is in fact disposed between the rear portion and the shoe heel.

The strip may be adhesively secured in place, and by employing a strip made of felt or other like multiple layer material as a filler, it will be obvious that any one or more layers may be peeled therefrom or otherwise removed to adjust the thickness of the filler with respect to the shoe, it depending of course upon the shape of the wearers heel and that of the shoe, and the size of the shoe, as to the number of layers to be removed. Inany event the filler is adjustable in that manner, so that it can be adjusted as to size and thickness if necessary, to fill the space referred to and thereby provide a proper and snug fit, to prevent friction and to relieve pressure on the Achilles tendon, thereby preventing afflictions as previously set forth.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A blank from which a cup-shaped body of an insert for the heel of a shoe may be formed and comprising a single piece of material including a flat base to provide the bottom for said body, said base having a straight front end and a rounded rear end, wings of equal length formed on the 10 rearwardly projecting portions being straight and outwardly inclined from their point of connection with the base, and said wings being adapted to provide the side and rear walls for the cup like body by being bent at their juncture with the base for disposal perpendicular thereto and by sewing the rear ends of the wings to each other and the inner side edges thereof to the curved rear end of the base.

HUGO E. PROTZ. 

